Grounded Strategies

Volunteer Opportunity: Manchester Green Playce
2018-08-25 10:00 - 13:00, 2018-08-24 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Halifax) | PA
Support Grounded’s Green Playces: Manchester project and help us build out a youth-friendly, nature playspace and classroom designed with and for students from Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS). Tasks will include landscaping, light construction, and painting. There will be something for everyone!
Interested in volunteering with us at MACS? Fill out this form below:

Name

First

Last

Email

Address

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands
Country

PhoneOn which date(s) are you interested in volunteering?

Saturday, September 22 from 10:30am-2pm

Saturday, October 20 from 10:30am-2pm

Both
How many people will be attending this volunteer day in your party (including yourself)?Please list the name of each person in your group who will be attending this volunteer day.Please indicate "yes" if they are under 18 years of age.NameUnder 18? Any dietary restrictions in your party?Please use this field to tell us if there are any limitations or details we should know.

Δ

Panera Fundraiser
2018-08-02 16:00 - 20:00 | Panera, 136 Bakery Square Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support Grounded Strategies. Come into the Panera at 136 Bakery Square Blvd in Pittsburgh on Thursday, August 2nd between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Bring in this flyer, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 20% of the proceeds will be donated to Grounded Strategies.

2nd Annual Grounded Summer Carnival + Bantam Night
2018-07-06 17:30 - 20:30 | Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse, 1055 Spring Garden Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212, United States
STEP RIGHT UP! and have a drink with Grounded friends! Purchase an arm’s length of tickets to play a few games and win a prize or grab a bite and stay a while- all in support of Grounded’s work. All are welcome, including kids!
Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse & Whiskey Garden is graciously hosting us for a Bantam Night where 12% of all sales of Wigle cocktails, gear, and even beer(!) will come to Grounded. We’ll be adding a layer of fun with a Vintage Carnival theme and have games and activities to match!
Listen to Jenkins & Crum live. Gaucho‘s food-truck will be onsite to ensure there are full & happy bellies!
Free entry with many opportunities to contribute to Grounded while enjoying a fantastic summer evening in good company.

Thanks to our partners and sponsors:

Stars, Stripes & Pies
2018-07-04 14:00 - 18:00 | Carrick Dairy District Pavilion, 1529 Brownsville Rd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15210

A Royal Evening in Sherwood Forest
2018-06-21 18:30 - 21:30 | Sherwood Event Center, 400 Sherwood Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15221
Join us for an enchanted evening exploring the creative reuse of an outdoor space
designed and developed by our team in partnership with Hosanna House.

Meet staff, partners, and board members to learn more about our work across the county strengthening communities while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and refreshments in a one-of-a-kind space.
Dress business casual – be sure to wear sturdy footwear appropriate for the forest floor.
Attendees will get the chance to:

Spend the first night of summer outside and among friends
Explore creative and natural play opportunities as designed by Grounded
Enjoy food, drinks, and treats created to complement the setting
Experience a live performance by the New Renaissance Theatre Company
Learn more about the Grounded team and the work we do
Join our network of supporters as we continue to grow!

Prev12Next
PrevNext

Special thank you to our generous partners and sponsors:

Volunteer Opportunity: Outdoor classroom build day at Pittsburgh Classical Academy
2018-06-02 09:00 - 13:00, 2018-05-12 10:00 - 14:00 | Pittsburgh Classical Academy, 1400 Crucible Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15205, United States
Support Grounded’s Green Playces: Possibilities project and help us build out a youth-friendly playspace designed with and for students from Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Program for Students Exceptionalities (PSE) program. Tasks will include landscaping, light construction, and painting. There will be something for everyone!
Interested in volunteering with us at Pittsburgh Classical Academy? Fill out this form below:

Name

First

Last

Email

Address

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands
Country

PhoneOn which date are you interested in volunteering?

Saturday, May 12 from 10am-2pm

Saturday, June 2 from 9am-1pm

Both
How many people will be attending this volunteer day in your party (including yourself)?Please list the name of each person in your group who will be attending this volunteer day.Please indicate "yes" if they are under 18 years of age.NameUnder 18? Any dietary restrictions in your party?Please use this field to tell us if there are any limitations or details we should know.

Δ

2018 GIS Class
2018-05-21 18:30 - 20:30, 2018-05-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2018-05-07 18:30 - 20:30, 2018-04-30 18:30 - 20:30, 2018-04-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2018-04-02 18:30 - 20:30, 2018-03-26 18:30 - 20:30, 2018-03-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Grounded Strategies’ Office, 6587 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
Classes from March 19 – May 21

Instructed by Evaine K. Sing from GTECH
A ten-week course to learn the basics of GIS technologies (Geographic Information Systems), with a focus on the industry-standard ArcGIS platform by ESRI. Classes will be held every Monday from March 19th-May 21st from 6:30-8:30 PM.
The course will cover:
An overview to GIS, Finding, Downloading, Cleaning Data, File Geodatabases, GIS Outputs, Map Design, Spatial Data, Geoprocessing, Spatial Analysis, Application
We will utilize lecture, hands on tutorials in the program, readings and application with a Community Project and Partner.

Frequently Asked Questions:
What do I need?

We use the text “GIS Tutorial 1, 10.3 Edition” by Kurland and Gorr. There are electronic versions available, but this is a great reference book and it can be easier to have something to flip through when you need a reminder of what you’ve learned.
A free trial of the software is available online, but limited to 90 days which should get you through the class if you are looking to evaluate the system. I believe a 180 day trial is available with the purchase of a new copy of the text. Alternatively, if you would like to purchase a personal copy of the software, ESRI offers a personal license for $100/year though the text will still be required.
An external hard drive or jump drive with at least 2GB of free space.
Plan to have your own Laptop and ArcGIS software for the course. The desktop version of this software (which is what this class will focus on) only works in the Windows Operating System. So, if you have a Mac, you can run a Windows virtual machine through your Mac or try and borrow a PC.

If I don’t own a laptop, can I borrow one?

There are 3 desktops on location (with ArcGIS installed) for students who cannot provide their own computer but this means you will only be able to work during the class hours.

What should I expect?

This professional development class is designed so that students can work at their own pace. We will work to get you familiar with concepts and tools during the class time, and provide ample time to work on modules while we are available to help troubleshoot and answer questions. That said, the more time you are able to commit to finishing the in class exercises and applying what you’ve learned in a practical project, the more you will retain.
Each year, we adjust the class based on feedback of previous students to ensure you get a strong understanding of the system, its potential for use in your field of interest or work, and a starting point for data and analytics.
We work to solidify the individual lessons through project application – if you have a project in mind, we can work with you to make that happen, if you need a project, we will connect you with a community partner who may need some support – as mentioned, the more you use it, the easier it gets and the project is a great way to apply what you learn.
We get that this is something extra and we want to make sure it is worth your time! If you have additional questions, or need more time, we can work with you so that you don’t get overwhelmed. We also want to make it fun, we provide snacks during each class and spend plenty of time commiserating over the challenges of clean data and imperfect technology!

What kind of projects can I do?

The only limitations for project applications are your commitment to time and access to the data. We can work to connect you to many data sources, but occasionally due to privacy concerns or disconnected systems, certain data may be hard to obtain – such as detailed crime or health information – but we will do our best to help you work on something that is relevant to you.

Is there a certificate for completing this course?

While this course is not accredited in any way, we will provide a certificate to acknowledge your completion of study. Successful completion includes the expectation of attendance in all classes (or making up the work if you miss it), successful completion of all assignments, and an applied project to be on the final day of class.

ReMake Learning Days: Braddock Green Playce
2018-05-20 13:00 - 16:00 | PA
Join us!
As part of the ReMake Learning Days event series, join Grounded on the afternoon of Sunday, May 20 for a youth-friendly volunteer day! We will be working on our Braddock Green Playce project at Free Store 15401.

What is Remake Learning Days?
(From Remake Learning)
The members of the Remake Learning Network create future-ready, hands-on, relevant and engaging educational experiences for kids and their families, caregivers and educators in greater Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and beyond.
Join us for Remake Learning Days, May 17-25, 2018. It’s a celebration of activities and events showcasing everything that makes the greater Pittsburgh and West Virginia region a recognized national leader in innovative teaching and learning.
What is a Green Playce?
Green Playces are hives of education, innovation, creativity, science and, most importantly, play. These youth-created greenspaces are implemented on vacant or under-utilized land and provide opportunities for outdoor STEAM learning for youth in some of our most distressed communities.
What can I expect to do at this event?
Projects may include construction with hand and power tools, painting, landscaping, or planting. There will be something for everyone!
What do I need to bring?
Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothing that can get paint & dirt on it. Some paints we use are not washable from clothing. We will provide safety equipment and all tools, as well as water and snacks.

Register below!

Name

First

Last

Email

Address

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands
Country

PhoneHow many people will be attending this volunteer day in your party (including yourself)?Please list the name of each person in your group who will be attending this volunteer day.Please indicate the age if they are under 18 years of age.NameUnder 18? Any dietary restrictions in your party?Please use this field to tell us if there are any limitations or details we should know.

Δ

Urban Leadership Series: Developing Effective Partnerships
2018-05-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Metro-Urban Institute Presents the Urban Leadership Series. The Urban Leadership Series is comprised of workshops and lectures aimed at equipping organizations and individuals with the tools to address issues in urban communities.
Sessions are held the first Monday of every month and will be led by various community leaders. Sessions are an excellent networking opportunity and free and open to the public.

Chipotle Fundraiser
2018-05-03 16:00 - 20:00 | Chipotle, 6800 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support Grounded Strategies. Come into the Chipotle at 4800 Baum Blvd. in Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 3rd between 4:00pm and 8:00pm. Bring in this flyer, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Grounded Strategies.

Homewood Redd Up Day - Fuel Up, Redd Up, Get Up Event
2018-04-28 09:00 - 12:00 | Homewood-Brushton YMCA, 7140 Bennett Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15208, United States
During this event, residents, and volunteers go out to clean the sidewalks and vacant lots in the area. Attendees will be provided with tools (especially trash pickers), bags, gloves, and etc. to help with cleanup. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for those who participate.

Community Stormwater Roundtable - Grounded Strategies Office
2018-04-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Grounded Strategies, 6587 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Click Here to RSVP

2018 GIS Class
2018-04-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Grounded Strategies’ Office, 6587 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, 15206, United States

2018 GIS Class
2018-04-16 18:30 - 20:30 | Grounded Strategies, 6587 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Classes from March 19 – May 21

Instructed by Evaine K. Sing from Grounded Strategies
A ten-week course to learn the basics of GIS technologies (Geographic Information Systems), with a focus on the industry-standard ArcGIS platform by ESRI. Classes will be held every Monday from March 19th-May 21st from 6:30-8:30 PM.
The course will cover:
An overview of GIS, Finding, Downloading, Cleaning Data, File Geodatabases, GIS Outputs, Map Design, Spatial Data, Geoprocessing, Spatial Analysis, Application
We will utilize lecture, hands-on tutorials in the program, readings and application with a Community Project and Partner.

Frequently Asked Questions:
What do I need?

We use the text “GIS Tutorial 1, 10.3 Edition” by Kurland and Gorr. There are electronic versions available, but this is a great reference book and it can be easier to have something to flip through when you need a reminder of what you’ve learned.
A free trial of the software is available online but limited to 90 days which should get you through the class if you are looking to evaluate the system. I believe a 180-day trial is available with the purchase of a new copy of the text. Alternatively, if you would like to purchase a personal copy of the software, ESRI offers a personal license for $100/year though the text will still be required.
An external hard drive or jump drive with at least 2GB of free space.
Plan to have your own Laptop and ArcGIS software for the course. The desktop version of this software (which is what this class will focus on) only works in the Windows Operating System. So, if you have a Mac, you can run a Windows virtual machine on your Mac or try and borrow a PC.

If I don’t own a laptop, can I borrow one?

There are 3 desktops onsite (with ArcGIS installed) for students who cannot provide their own computer but this means you will only be able to work during the class hours.

What should I expect?

This professional development class is designed so that students can work at their own pace. We will work to get you familiar with concepts and tools during the class time and provide ample time to work on modules while we are available to help troubleshoot and answer questions. That said, the more time you are able to commit to finishing the in-class exercises and applying what you’ve learned in a practical project, the more you will retain.
Each year, we adjust the class based on the feedback of previous students to ensure you get a strong understanding of the system, its potential for use in your field of interest or work, and a starting point for data and analytics.
We work to solidify the individual lessons through project application – if you have a project in mind, we can work with you to make that happen, if you need a project, we will connect you with a community partner who may need some support – as mentioned, the more you use it, the easier it gets and the project is a great way to apply what you learn.
We get that this is something extra and we want to make sure it is worth your time! If you have additional questions or need more time, we can work with you so that you don’t get overwhelmed. We also want to make it fun, we provide snacks during each class and spend plenty of time commiserating over the challenges of clean data and imperfect technology!

What kind of projects can I do?

The only limitations for project applications are your commitment to time and access to the data. We can work to connect you to many data sources, but occasionally due to privacy concerns or disconnected systems, certain data may be hard to obtain – such as detailed crime or health information – but we will do our best to help you work on something that is relevant to you.

Is there a certificate for completing this course?

While this course is not accredited in any way, we will provide a certificate to acknowledge your completion of study. Successful completion includes the expectation of attendance in all classes (or making up the work if you miss it), successful completion of all assignments, and an applied project to be on the final day of class.

Open House Birthday Party
2018-04-16 15:00 - 19:00 | Grounded Strategies’ Office, 6587 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
We will be celebrating our 11th birthday at our home with you and friends! There will be food, activities, and we will be sharing what we’ve been up to as well as the planned projects for 2018.
This event is informal so feel free to bring the family along!

Land Lab Homewood
2018-04-14 09:30 - 17:00 | CCAC Homewood, 701 N. Homewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15208, United States
Register Now
Join us for Land Lab Homewood
On Saturday, April 14, 2018, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, join residents of Homewood, greenspace organizations, and GTECH for Land Lab Homewood. Land Lab connects residents with resources to transform vacant lots.
Spinning off from the successful city-wide Blight Bootcamp Conferences of the last two years in partnership with the Blight Working Group, GTECH is launching a series of Land Labs that will target the specific blight issues of a particular neighborhood.
Land Lab Homewood Program
This community event will feature a morning of networking and resource-sharing, presentations customized to address neighborhood-specific challenges and opportunities, and a volunteer workday.
Schedule for Saturday, April 14:

9:30 am: Connect with the Experts!
Check in, get breakfast, and connect with local greenspace organizations. Bring your questions to meet with our “Blight Doctors” for one-on-one consultations about your a vacant lot project.
11:00 am-12:15 pm: Presentation Session 1
12:15 PM: Lunch
12:30 PM-1:45 pm: Presentation Session 2
2:00 PM: Volunteer Work Day
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please let us know if you would like to reserve free childcare for this event. If you require free or reduced-price registration, please call:
(412) 361-2099 ext. 9#
Register Now

Community Stormwater Roundtable - EECO Center
2018-04-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Environment & Energy Community Outreach Center, 200 Larimer Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15206

Community Stormwater Roundtable - Homewood Library
2018-03-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Homewood Library, 7101 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15208

2018 GIS Class Registration Deadline
2018-03-09 | Grounded Strategies’ Office, 6587 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, 15206, United States
Registration is now FULL

Classes from March 19 – May 21
Cost: $500

Instructed by Evaine K. Sing from GTECH
A ten-week course to learn the basics of GIS technologies (Geographic Information Systems), with a focus on the industry-standard ArcGIS platform by ESRI. Classes will be held every Monday from March 19th-May 21st from 6:30-8:30 PM.
The course will cover:
An overview to GIS, Finding, Downloading, Cleaning Data, File Geodatabases, GIS Outputs, Map Design, Spatial Data, Geoprocessing, Spatial Analysis, Application
We will utilize lecture, hands on tutorials in the program, readings and application with a Community Project and Partner.

Frequently Asked Questions:
What do I need?

We use the text “GIS Tutorial 1, 10.3 Edition” by Kurland and Gorr. There are electronic versions available, but this is a great reference book and it can be easier to have something to flip through when you need a reminder of what you’ve learned.
A free trial of the software is available online, but limited to 90 days which should get you through the class if you are looking to evaluate the system. I believe a 180 day trial is available with the purchase of a new copy of the text. Alternatively, if you would like to purchase a personal copy of the software, ESRI offers a personal license for $100/year though the text will still be required.
An external hard drive or jump drive with at least 2GB of free space.
Plan to have your own Laptop and ArcGIS software for the course. The desktop version of this software (which is what this class will focus on) only works in the Windows Operating System. So, if you have a Mac, you can run a Windows virtual machine through your Mac or try and borrow a PC.

If I don’t own a laptop, can I borrow one?

There are 3 desktops on location (with ArcGIS installed) for students who cannot provide their own computer but this means you will only be able to work during the class hours.

What should I expect?

This professional development class is designed so that students can work at their own pace. We will work to get you familiar with concepts and tools during the class time, and provide ample time to work on modules while we are available to help troubleshoot and answer questions. That said, the more time you are able to commit to finishing the in class exercises and applying what you’ve learned in a practical project, the more you will retain.
Each year, we adjust the class based on feedback of previous students to ensure you get a strong understanding of the system, its potential for use in your field of interest or work, and a starting point for data and analytics.
We work to solidify the individual lessons through project application – if you have a project in mind, we can work with you to make that happen, if you need a project, we will connect you with a community partner who may need some support – as mentioned, the more you use it, the easier it gets and the project is a great way to apply what you learn.
We get that this is something extra and we want to make sure it is worth your time! If you have additional questions, or need more time, we can work with you so that you don’t get overwhelmed. We also want to make it fun, we provide snacks during each class and spend plenty of time commiserating over the challenges of clean data and imperfect technology!

Do you offer a flexible payment schedule?

If you are interested in a flexible payment schedule or need to pay in installments, just let us know and we can make arrangements. Email s.bailey@gtechstrategies.org.

What kind of projects can I do?

The only limitations for project applications are your commitment to time and access to the data. We can work to connect you to many data sources, but occasionally due to privacy concerns or disconnected systems, certain data may be hard to obtain – such as detailed crime or health information – but we will do our best to help you work on something that is relevant to you.

Is there a certificate for completing this course?

While this course is not accredited in any way, we will provide a certificate to acknowledge your completion of study. Successful completion includes the expectation of attendance in all classes (or making up the work if you miss it), successful completion of all assignments, and an applied project to be on the final day of class.

Resilience Generation Deadline
2018-03-02 | PA
Beginning in Fall 2016 through June 2019, GTECH will offer a range of custom interventions in partnership with 24 organizations in the effort to increase the resilience of communities across Allegheny County.
If your organization works with residents to build community health and resilience, you could apply for technical support ranging from $5 – 30k of direct and indirect resources.

Stack'd Fundraiser
2018-02-21 08:00 - 17:00 | PA
Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support GTECH Strategies. Come in to Stack’d at 728 Copeland Street in Pittsburgh on Friday, September 7th between 4:00pm and 8:00pm. Mention our name or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 20% of the proceeds will be donated to GTECH Strategies.
